United suspending commercial service at IYK

Inyokern Airport is set to lose its only commercial commuter airline service in November, according to airport officials.Scott Seymour, General Manager of IYK, confirmed Tuesday that United Express, a partner with the regional company SkyWest Airlines, would suspend flights to and from the airport after Nov. 4.

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By Jack BarnwellCITY EDITORjbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Ridgecrest Daily Independent - Ridgecrest, CA

By Jack BarnwellCITY EDITORjbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Sep. 18, 2013 at 9:07 AM

By Jack BarnwellCITY EDITORjbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Sep. 18, 2013 at 9:07 AM

Inyokern Airport is set to lose its only commercial commuter airline service in November, according to airport officials.

Scott Seymour, General Manager of IYK, confirmed Tuesday that United Express, a partner with the regional company SkyWest Airlines, would suspend flights to and from the airport after Nov. 4.

"They told me that they were suspending the flights due to lower ridership numbers," Seymour said by phone.

United confirmed Tuesday that service would be suspended.

"We made the decision due to performance," Mary Clark, a spokesperson for United, said. "Services did not meet our expectations."

Clark could not provide additional details, but added that it was the decision of United Express to suspend services.

SkyWest is the Inyokern regional partner for Chicago-based United Airlines, which owns United Express, Clark said.

Seymour said he estimated that an average of between 350 and 400 passengers passed through the gates on SkyWest in an average month.

"The fare cost have been among the highest for the last few years," Seymour said.

Suspending service may impact 20 people working at the airport, including Transportation Security Administration employees and local United workers, Seymour said.

Cancellation of SkyWest services means a loss of revenue to IYK itself, Seymour said. Those losses include passenger fees, rental car services and book revenues.

"It's hard right now to get flights in, especially with our numbers," Seymour said.

However, he stressed that the airport would not be sitting by as United grounds all flights.

"I am actively pursuing other airlines to continue to bring service into Inyokern Airport," Seymour said.